MONTEREY, Calif. (April 14, 2008) Quietly over the years, the Sea Otter Classic has managed to make great strides as a “green” event by reducing its carbon footprint. Now Sea Otter has become the model against which other events in the Monterey Bay area get measured. Partnerships with companies that have existing “green” initiatives already in place, like Toyota, Clif Bar, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. and Pedro’s, become part of the process to achieving a more sustainable, more environmentally responsible event. New this year, Sierra Nevada has signed on as the “Official Recycling Sponsor” and who better to lead Sea Otter’s recycling efforts than a company that managed to divert 98.2 percent of total solid waste from landfill through recycling and reuse efforts during 2007.

“Recycling is something that we do naturally here at our plant,” said Cheri Chastain, sustainability coordinator for Sierra Nevada. “So going to and participating at events, we wanted to improve the recycle-ability of products, now it’s at the point where we can start expanding and doing these things at the events we’re attending.”

While recycling may be a small step, it is an important one. Sierra Nevada’s expressed goal for the Sea Otter Classic is to make recycling easy. Next to every trashcan there will be a recycling bin so, an impulsive action to chuck recyclables in the trashcan should be easy enough to divert to the recycling bin right next to it. Now how easy is that?

Accessorize with Clif Bar

Clif Bar will take all energy bar wrappers (that’s right, ALL of them) at their booth, number 227 to later be converted into useful objects like tote bags and purses. The environmentally conscious Clif Bar & Co., in partnership with Terracycle, will be unveiling its new energy bar wrapper-recycling program, called the Wrapper Brigade at Sea Otter. For a look at the final product or just to learn more about the Wrapper Brigade, go here.

Sea Otter will also be the first stop on the 2008 tour of the Clif Bar 2 Mile Challenge, which challenges people to fight global warming by walking or riding bikes for trips that are two miles or less. Clif Bar unveiled its 2 Mile Challenge project at Interbike last year and the response so far has been positive.

“People everywhere really seem to be getting behind the concept of using a bike to make those quick trips of under two miles from where they live,” said Ryan Mayo, mobile marketing manager for Clif Bar & Co. “It’s not hard to see that it’s going to take some proactivity on our collective part if we want to make a difference on the climate change front. To that end, no one said that fighting climate change has to be boring – and what’s more fun than emission-free travel on two wheels?! Here at Clif Bar, we enjoy our time on the bike for sure, so this was a natural evolution for us to help along the car-to-bike mode shift movement.”

A portion of staff members will be pedaling to Laguna Seca from Clif HQ in Berkeley (120 miles) and every Clif employee who attends Sea Otter will commute to Laguna Seca from their hotel.

Pedro’s Bike Wash cleans without harming the environment

A Cleaner “Clean” at the Pedro’s Bike Wash

Pedro’s brand bicycle care will further reduce environmental impact to the Laguna Seca Recreation Area and Fort Ord trails by providing Pedro’s Green Fizz Bike Wash Station, where dirty bikes will get their own kind of environmentally friendly spa treatment. Green Fizz, a biodegradable foaming bike wash, ProJ, a biodegradable, professional-strength citrus degreaser, and Go!, Pedro’s newest biodegradable and sustainable chain lube, will be on hand for cyclists who care about both their bikes and the environment to scrub, degrease, and lube their rides.

“We’re excited to offer the bike wash at Sea Otter. The event’s commitment to the planet is tremendous and we think that should be supported at every level. We want all riders to be able to wash their bikes and kill the dirt without killing the fish” said Jason Elhardt, Pedro’s marketing and communications manager.

Preferential treatment for hybrids, courtesy of Toyota

For the second year, anyone arriving at Sea Otter in a hybrid vehicle, like a Toyota Prius or Highlander, will be directed to premier reserved parking. Pedal-powered vehicles and carpools of four or more people per vehicle will also gain access. The reserved parking area is hosted by Toyota.

With some of the nation’s most environmentally proactive companies distinguishing Sea Otter just by their presence, Sea Otter must evolve as a responsible Environmental Steward to keep pace with its esteemed partners. Recycling, reducing, and solving the challenges of climate change have become a global responsibility. This year’s programs offered by the Sea Otter Classic, its partners and its participants take a giant leap in minimizing the event’s carbon footprint.

About Sea Otter Classic, Inc.
The 18th Annual Sea Otter Classic will be held April 17-20, 2008 at the Laguna Seca Recreation Area, Monterey, California, USA. The four-day “Celebration of Sport” is considered the world’s largest cycling festival, hosting nearly 10,000 professional and amateur athletes and 50,000 fans. The Sea Otter Classic benefits the Davis Phinney Foundation, which supports Parkinson’s disease research and wellness, and IMBA California, which organizes advocacy and trailbuilding efforts statewide and strengthens California mountain bike clubs. More information can be found at www.seaotterclassic.com or by calling 800-218-8411.

source: Sea Otter Classic News Service

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